(Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty Images)
Haason Reddick hasn’t played a single snap for the New York Jets, and it seems like he’s in no rush to do so.
The former Philadelphia Eagles star has let it be known that he doesn’t intend to show up to training camp unless he gets a new contract.
The Jets, on the other hand, want him to show up before they will begin negotiating, so it seems like they’ve reached a bit of a stalemate.
However, as much as the Jets have every right to demand a player to show up before agreeing to give him tens of millions of dollars, Stephen A. Smith believes they’re acting out of place.
In the latest edition of ESPN’s First Take, the controversial talking head called out the Jets and told them to stop acting like something they’re not.
“You’re the Jets! The only reason you are relevant is because Aaron Rodgers showed up. Who the hell do you think you are? Get it done!”
—@stephenasmith on Haason Reddick holding out of Jets training camp pic.twitter.com/9fgMzcTXKx
— First Take (@FirstTake) July 24, 2024
He called the team ‘stupid’ and claimed that they’re only relevant because Aaron Rodgers is there, so they have no business acting tough and trying to play hardball with a star like Reddick.
He also pointed out the fact that they lost Bryce Huff, their leader in sacks, so they can’t afford not to have a prime headhunter like Reddick — who’s got 50.5 sacks in the past four seasons — on the roster.
Per Smith, a team that hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2010 has no business playing hard to get here.
Of course, this makes sense on paper, but it’s also a dangerous precedent.
They would’ve never traded for him if they didn’t intend to give him a new deal, and Reddick has shown no willingness to meet them in the middle or even get the conversation started, and that’s no way to do business.
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